Digital Rights: What are they and how can I take part?
The information age or digital age has changed how we see the world, from how we communicate to how we conduct business, school and personal projects. The use of digital services has changed rapidly in the past few years. Now, with the covid-19 pandemic having limited physical contact, we are relying more than ever, on digital services. This increase in the use of digital services introduces a new facet to human rights — digital rights. Think of how we apply human rights in our daily lives. Digital rights are just that — human rights in the digital space. Concepts of human rights such as the right to thought, opinion and expression or the right to privacy are also applicable in the digital space.
Perhaps the biggest digital right and most encompassing is the right to access and use of computers and/or electronic devices. Shockingly, we are in 2022 and the digital divide still exists. The ITU states that approximately 4.9 billion people — or 63 per cent of the world’s population — are using the Internet in 2021 while 96 per cent of the 2.9 billion who are still offline, live in the developing world. Access borders on various components such as sound infrastructure, literacy levels, inclusion and security and many others.
The internet enables communities to connect and is a powerful enabler for sustained relationships. I had my baby in 2021 during a pandemic and so, for most of the time, I was indoors with little to no communication with the outside world. But having internet access helped me stay connected to old friends, and new friends too. I joined a mother’s support group which tremendously helped my mental health and made me survive those first days with a newborn. I am certain there are many other ways the internet has changed my life for the better and I am sure many others agree with me.
Putting a stop to internet use by restricting internet access, as has been done by some governments or having access unauthorized access to personally identifiable information is an afront to human rights. Many entrepreneurs now use the internet to develop and sell their products, which enables them to grow their businesses and employ more people. Restricting internet access cripples businesses and slows a countries economic growth. Fair cyber laws can contribute to ensuring that cyberspace is safe and secure. This can encourage more people to freely express themselves without fear. Unfortunately, some cyber laws do the opposite and are created to suppress people’s rights to opinion and expression or privacy.
Digital rights are important and every individual should take interest in understanding what they are. You may ask, what can I do to ensure that digital rights are upheld?
- Get involved. Learn about new technologies and how they will affect you and your community. This ranges from taking up STEM courses to contributing to human-centred technology policy. Advocate for policies that ensure that as technology advances, we remember that it is made for man and not man for technology.
- Engage the government on technological issues. Technology is wide and has many aspects so every voice and view is important.
- Share and submit your thoughts on cyber laws. I took part in a submission to a parliamentary committee in 2021, concerning the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Bill, the Data Protection Bill and the Electronic Transactions and Communications Bill. When these are enacted as laws, they will affect you as an individual, your family and your business so take a keen interest.
- Ensure that every decision-making team is inclusive and diverse to bring different opinions and views which include the experiences of minority and vulnerable groups. Oftentimes, the vulnerable are not given a seat at the table and so there is no input from them. This leads to developing biased and unfair technology policies and creating technologies that do not solve a society’s problems.
- Call out government and companies, especially big tech companies when they are wrong. There is a need for institutions that deal with people to be accountable and transparent. Question the values and ethics of big tech companies and how their products affect citizens.
- Support local companies and non-profits that understand local problems. For solutions to be effective, they should be tailor-made for a community. Homegrown solutions for home known problems.
- Educate people around you on digital rights and what they can do as responsible citizens. The dream of an equal and fair world belongs to every single person and we should all do our part.
To learn about digital rights and how you can get involved, check out the organizations below.
The Internet Society is a global nonprofit empowering people to keep the Internet a force for good: open, globally-connected, secure, and trustworthy.
The Web Foundation uses original research, advocacy and public action to shape the policies and products needed for the web we want.
The Alliance for Affordable Internet is an initiative to make the Internet more affordable to people around the world
Access Now is a non-profit with a mission to defend and extend the digital civil rights of people around the world.
